prologue

In a well-known busy hospital, the heart-clenching sound of wailing echoed through the emergency room. A code blue alert that was constantly being broadcast caused several doctors and nurses to rush into a room. Multiple onlookers gathered in the hallway, hindering the path of medical staff. The nurse, looking stern, quickly notified security guards about the problem. 

"What is this? Do they come to watch a show?"

Under her breath, she voiced her complaints.

It was bad enough that the patient's relatives had disturbed other patients and medical staff with their crying and shouting, but where on earth did those onlookers come from? 

"Make way, move!" 

As the security guards evacuated people, they forced their way into the front of the room.

"What happened? Is the patient some famous actor or something? " 

" Of course not! He is just a typical 40-something man! " 

" So what is the fuss?"

In response, the nurse shrugged her shoulders. 

She found it to be a mystery as well. 

The man was already unconscious when he was taken to the hospital due to trauma to his head. It seemed that he had gone hiking in his house's backyard on an isolated mountain and fell into a snowslide. He was discovered by his older son, unaware of how many hours had passed, at a time when his body had become cold and his pulse was weak.

Upon her first sight of the patient, she was evoked by the image of a frozen prince in an ice casket because of his excessive paleness and white colour on his beautiful face.

The most unbelievable part was how young he looked, considering his twenty-something son was anxiously following him. Had she not been aware, she would have assumed they were brothers.

Suddenly, a young man pushed aside everyone and stormed in front of the room, yelling for his dad with a broken voice and a tearful face. The nurse frowned in displeasure due to his histrionic act. Before she had a chance to reprimand the young man, a strong slap hit the young adult's right cheek. 

"Calm down, YuZe! Your frantic act will not help our dad!"

The crying boy was scolded by a young man with a cold temperament. 

Ren Mengsheng, 22 years old, was the son of one of the most prominent families in the capital. He had a tall figure with a slim physique and broad shoulders. The curly black hair and black eyes contrasted against his pale skin. 

It was widely accepted among the wealthy and affluent that his icy demeanour would not alter even if faced with a dying child. However, his complexion was now displaying intense sadness and anxiety. 

His father and his younger brother were all members of their family. Until a week ago, they had no idea about their mother and her whereabouts. Whenever they inquired about her with their father, they were met with silence and profound sorrow. Eventually, neither of them mentioned their mother's topic.

The announcement of their father's retirement and the transfer of everything to them brought about a change in everything. The first document they received from the lawyers was regarding their lack of blood relation to their father. 

It seemed that their mother was an orphan and got pregnant right after graduation from high school. Their biological father was the son of a prominent family from another city who had been disowned. Ren Mengsheng was unconcerned with these two people whom he had never met or received any kind of love or presence in his twenty-something years. In place of that, he had a greater interest in learning why and how their kind and handsome dad adopted and raised them with care. Raising two toddlers while a teenager and settling in the capital city was a very challenging task.

The response he received consisted solely of two words: 

Family friend. 

Their father's evasive behaviour had become too much for him to handle, and they had a major argument for the first time. The last words he spoke to his father were harsh and hurtful. 

After expressing a need to cool down, their father left the house and went to a remote location. YuZe wished to join him, but he prevented him from doing so. 

Ren Mengsheng struggled to comprehend the peculiar actions of their adopted father. It was unprecedented for a 17-year-old boy who had no money or family to suddenly relocate to the capital city and raise two unrelated children with total devotion. All the stories he had heard about their father's young version didn't describe him as any type of delinquent or thug.

He was a healthy smart teenager with a registration book. If he handed them to the government and went his separate way, he could have been more successful and carefree. Maybe he would even find love and get married and have his own children.

Why should he bear the burden of raising them and endure all the pain along the way? Was he a masochist?

Exhausted by his brain's struggle to connect the dots and irritated by his wacky assumption, he headed to his father's remote residence. 

Following a week of not contacting him, he abruptly visited to inquire about his dad's true reason. The thrill he experienced was greater than unfolding the mystery. 

Taking a deep breath and signalling his secretary, Ren Mengshen attempted to soothe his violent temper. 

"Disperse the irreverent individuals from the hospital."

In addition to the gang members, there were a significant number of people who were indebted to their father and rushed to the hospital when they heard the news. The Tiger Gang leader's popularity was a source of concern for the police force and political figures in the city.

The fact that the main character had no idea about it was absurd! 

Well, it was due to his devoted subordinates that everything was in order and the man hadn't felt the pressure from the police or other powerful forces.

The hallway was finally peaceful and quiet once all the people were withdrawn. Nevertheless, the nerve-wracking waiting became even more intense due to it.

Mengsheng experienced an emotional roller coaster ride before the emergency room door was opened. Upon gazing into the doctor's eyes, he was aware of the outcome. Losing all the strength in his legs, he slid down the wall, his head dizzy. YuZe's screaming and blaming him for their father's death were the sole sound he heard.

Throughout the fiasco, no one noticed that the body of the dead man had been pushed away from the hospital, rather than being taken to the morgue.